Matrix band retaining clamp



July 31, 1962 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 3,046,659

MATRIX BAND RETAINING CLAMP Filed March 6, 1961 INVEN TOR.

BE NJAM N F TOFF'LEMIRE :E'l ER '2. 42 5%&/

ATTORNEY 3,646,659 MATRIX BAND RETAINING CLAlVIP Benjamin F. Toitiemire, R0, Box 677, Lafayette, Calif. Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,435 9 Claims. (Cl. 32-63) This application is a continuation-in-part of the matrix band retaining clamps shown in my following United States applications: (1) Pliers for Releasing Retaining Clamp From Dental Matrix Band, Serial No. 45,841, filed July 28, 1960, and now abandoned; and (2) Pliers for Crimping Retaining Clamp on Dental Matrix Band, Serial No. 57,746, filed September 22, 1960, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in a matrix band retaining clamp. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide and efiicient, inexpensive, and easily operated matrix band retaining clamp which may be used in conjunction with my matrix band retainers, such as shown in United States Letters Patents Nos. 2,502,903 and 2,591,745.

It is proposed in this invention to provide a matrix band retaining clamp which may be readily applied to the overlapped end sections of a looped matrix band that encircles a patients tooth. The clamp is adapted to be interposed between the looped portion of the band and the matrix retainer, the latter being anchored to the projecting end sections of the band. After the retainer has been actuated so as to constrict the looped portion of the band around the patients tooth, the clamp may be crimped upon the overlapped end sections of the band. This will permit the matrix retainer to be entirely removed from the patients month, while the clamp remains in place. At the same time excess ends of the band may be turned back or trimmed ofi.

In so doing, the operator is assured that the band is securely held in the originally adjusted position; and, at the same time, he is provided with access, improved visibility of the operative field, less bulk of equipage, and a greater degree of comfort to the patient.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a retaining clamp which may be introduced over the occlusal.

edges of the overlapped end sections of the looped matrix band, the clamp being substantially U-shaped to define a pair of legs straddling the overlapped end sections of the band. A pair of spaced lugs are disposed on the exterior surfaces of the gingival corners of each of the legs of the retaining clamp. These lugs serve several important functions: (1) they preclude the clamp from being drawn into the slotted head of the retainer during the constricting of the band; (2) they provide guideways that serve to guide the jaws or beaks of crimping pliers into final position over the retaining clam-p, serving as stops or a depth-gauge to limit movement of the jaws or beaks in a gingival direction, and limiting lateral movement of the jaws or beaks in either lateral direction relative to the retaining clamp; and 3) they maintain proper orientation or position of all of the involved units during the tightening of the band.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retaining clamp that is so shaped that it will be expanded laterally during the crimping thereof. This results in a twofold advantage: (1) a hair-line closure of the entire occluso-gingival length of the encircling band will result so as to prevent the filling from being pressed out of the cavity of the tooth and passing between the overlapped end sections of the band; and (2) certain of the lugs will be expanded into the gingival recess of the banded tooth,

ice

2 precluding gingival overhanging margins of the filling in this area.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which: FIGURE 1 is a bucco-lingual sectional view showing my retaining clamp as being interposed between the looped portion of a dental matrix band that encircles a patients tooth and the head of a matrix retainer which is anchored to the overlapped end sections of the band;

FIGURE 2 is an occlusal view of FIGURE 1, the jaws or beaks of the crimping pliers being indicated by dotdash lines; 7

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the matrix band retaining clamp;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view similar to PTGURE 3, but showing the'retaining clamp inverted;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of my crimping pliers, the latter being shown in open position;

FiGURE 6 is an enlarged view of a fragmentary portion of the crimping pliers, disclosing the jaws as being closed upon an interposed retaining clamp;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of my clampreleasing pliers in open position; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the clamp-releasing pliers, illustrating the jaws of these pliers as being closed and the released retaining clamp removed from the matrix band.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my in vention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that I have shown a looped matrix band designated generally at A, the looped portion iii) of which encircles a patients tooth B. The overlapped end sections 11 of the band project from the looped portion 10 so as to be engaged by a matrix retainer C, the details of which will be set forth as the specification proceeds.

The matrix retaining clamp forming the subject matter of the present case is designated at D.

As clearly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the man retaining clamp -D is adapted to be interposed between the looped portion 10 of the band A and-a slotted head E of the matrix retainer C. clamp is substantially U-shaped and defines a pair of spaced legs lz'whic h are interconnected by an arch 13. The legs provide a slot 14 therebetween that is open at one end of these logs, whereby the retaining clamp D may be applied over the ocolusal edges 15 of the overlapped end sections-11 of the looped matrix band A and the clamp moved gingivally, i.e., towards the patients gums 16 so that the legs 12 will straddle the overlapped end sections 11 of the' band.

I n will be noted that are legs 12 of theretaining clamp D converge slightly toward one another toward the arch- =3 E during constricting of the band. The material of the clamp D is pliant or malleable, for instance aluminum or copper, so that the legs 12 may be cn'mped upon the overlapped end sections 11 of the band in firm clamping relation therewith.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8, it will be seen that one of the legs 12 is preformed with an interior rib (or tongue) 19 that projects towards a registering preformed interior recess (or groove) 20 fashioned in the other leg 12. This arrangement will provide interlocking oifsets 21 in the overlapped end sections 11 of the band, when the retaining clamp D is crimped upon the band (see FIGURE 2). :The purpose of the rib 19 and recess 20 is to positively anchor the retaining clamp D against slippage along the lengths of the end sections 11 of the band. Both the rib 19 and the recess 20 are formed by a stamping operation and extend in a gingival-occlusal direction. During the stamping of the recess 20, an exterior rib (or tongue) 22 will be provided on the outer surface of the leg 12 in which this recess is stamped (see FIGURE 4). Likewise, the stamping of the interior rib 19 in the other leg 12 Will produce an exterior recess (or groove) 19a in the outer surface of this other leg. The ribs (or tongues) 19 and 22, as well as the recesses (or grooves) 20 and 19a taper upwardly toward the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D.

It will be noted that a pair of spaced lugs 17 are disposed on the exterior surfaces of the gingival corners of each of the legs 12 of the retaining clamp D (see FIG- URES 1-4, 6 and 8), and the purpose of these lugs will appear as the specification proceeds.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the matrix retainer C selected for illustration is the subject matter of my United States Patent No. 2,502,903. It has been shown fragmentarily in these views, and is provided with a bar 23 on which a matrix-clamping block 24 is slidably mounted. The head E is carried by the bar 23, and defines four parallel and spaced fingers 25. As shown in FIGURE 2, the overlapped end sections 11 of the band A are guided through selected slots defined by these fingers, and are adapted to be introduced into a diagonally extending slot *26 formed in the block 24, and clamped thereto by a spindle 27 threaded into this block;

The block 24 may be retracted along the length of the bar 23 and away from the head B so :as to draw the looped portion of the matrix band A tightly against the axial cqntour181of the banded tooth B. During the constricting of the band, the overlapped end sections 11 are pulled through the slot 14 of the clamp D. Obviously, the latter is not crimped upon the matrix band A until after the band has been pulled tightly around the tooth B 'by actualing the retainer. One of the functions of the lugs 17 is to preclude the clamp D from being drawn into the slotted head E during the constricting of the band around the patients tooth.

In order to crimp the retaining clamp D on the dental matrix band A, I have provided special crimping pliers F. Of course, these pliers may be modified as far as my retaining clamp is concerned. In its structural features, the pliers F define a pair of coacting jaws or beaks G and H, which are adapted to be introduced over the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6. Each jaw or beak defines a free end 28 adapted to project gingivally relative to the banded tooth B. Moreover, the pliers F have apair of operating handles 29 and 30, which are swingably secured together by a journal pin '31 for closing and opening movements. A. leaf spring 32 may be fixed to one ofthe handles and bears against the other handle, as disclosed in FIGURE 5, so as to yieldingly urge the handles 29 and 30 apart and thus open the jaws or beaks G andH.

It will be noted that the, jaws or beaks G and H are fixed to the handles 29 and 30, respectively, and these jaws or beaks are movable toward and away from one another by activating thehandles. Stop-means] of any suitable construction is provided on the pliers F and disposed to bear against the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D for limiting movement of the jaws or beaks in a gingival direction over the legs 12 of this clamp so as to substantially confine the free ends 23 of the jaws or beaks to the legs 12, whereby the latter will be crirnped upon the interposed end sections 11 of the band A, when the jaws or beaks are moved toward one another.

As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the jaws or beaks G and H are fashioned with recesses or notches 34 in their lateral sides, each recess terminating in a shoulder 35 at its top. Each of these recesses or notches is disposed to receive one of the lugs 17 of the retaining clamp D so as to arrest further movement of the jaws or beaks in a gingival direction, when the shoulder 35 bears against the adjacent lug 17.

The free end portion of each jaw or beak G and H defines a nib disposed between its recesses 34, which is dimensioned to be inserted between a pair of the laterally disposed spaced lugs 17. This arrangement will hold the jaws or beaks against movement in either lateral directions relative to the legs 12 of the retaining clamp, and thus another important function results from the provision of the spaced lugs on the outer surfaces of the legs 12.

It will be apparent that a vertical guideway is provided on the exterior surfaces of each of the legs 12 by the laterally disposed spaced lugs 17. These guideways serve not only to guide the specially designed jaws or beaks into a final position over the interposed retaining clamp D, but further guide the shoulders 35 against the occlusal edges of the lugs 17 Thus these lugs may serve as stops or a depth-gauge to limit movement of the jaws or beaks in a gingival direction.

It will be noted from FIGURE 5 that the jaw or beak G is fashioned with a distal groove 36 disposed to fit over the occluso-gingival extending rib (or tongue) 22 that projects from the exterior surface of the distal leg 12 of the retaining clamp D. The width and depth of the groove 36 decrease in an occlusal direction so as to conform to the shape of the exterior rib (or tongue) 22.

The jaw or beak H has been provided with a wedgeshaped blade 37 that is adapted to enter the exterior recess (or groove) 19a of the retaining clamp on the mesial aspect of the clamp. The spaced lugs 17 serve to guide the jaws or beaks G and H into position wherein the groove 36 and blade 37 will register with the exterior rib (or tongue) 22 and the exterior recess (or groove) 19a,

respectively, as the pliers F are moved into final position over the retaining clamp. The exterior recess (or groove) 19a and the exterior rib (or tongue) 22 are disposed midway between the lugs 17 at the opposite lateral corners of the clamp.

Particular attention is called to the fact that a very important achievement of the retaining clamp D results when the crimping pliers F are closed upon this clamp after the band A has been adequately tightened by means of the retainer C. As the gingival adapter blade 37 of these pliers is forced or compressed into a mesially located groove 19a, it will be seen that a definite buccolingual and lateral expansion of the gingival lugs 17 is accomplished, which may be enhanced by any tendency of the pliers F to tend to flatten the exterior rib (or tongue) 22.

This results in,a two-fold advantage: (1) a hair-line closure 38 (see FIGURE 2) of the entire occluso-gingival length of the encircling band A does away with previously existing open space between the guide fingers 25 of the retainer C that permitted alloy to squash through in involved MOD (mesial-occlusaldistal) cavities, with either buccal (cheek side).or lingual (tongue side) extensions; and (2) the gingival-adapter lugs 17 are urged laterally to press the matrix band into the gingival recess 39 of the banded tooth B (see FIGURE 1).

This gingival third area has long been a neglected field in operative dentistry, as the too prevalent occurrence of gingiv-al-overhanging margins of countless alloy fillings discloses.

Moreover, the lateral lugs not only serve as guides for the jaws or beaks of the pliers F, but at the same time they serve an additional very important function, namely: their double thickness at the gingival border, on each side of the included band A, maintain proper orientation or position of all of the involved units during the tightening of the band A by-the retainer C, preventing the clamping block D from being drawn into the space between the fingers 25 of the slotted head E.

A-s clearly shown in FIGURES l, 3 and 4, the retaining clamp D is bi-laterally contoured with rounded or curved recesses 4t) conforming to the axial contour 18 of the banded tooth B. The recesses 40 are curved in an occluso-gin-gival direction. Thus, the clamp D may be applied to either the buccal or the lingual surfaces on the upper or lower arch, and on either the right or left side of the patients mouth. They are preformed and partially precrimped, utilizing a positive tongue and groove principle.

The V-shaped recess or groove 19a is always placed facing the operator, i.e., toward the mesial plane, regardless of whether the application. is on the buccal or lingual surface, right or left side, upper or lower jaw.

Subsequent to filling a prepared cavity 41 in the tooth B (see FIGURE 2), or taking an impression thereof, it will be necessary to remove the retaining clamp D from the overlapped end sections 11 of the band A so. as to free the latter for removal. For this purpose the releasing or opening pliers K may be employed with facility and ease (see FIGURES 7 and 8). Of course, these pliers may be modified insofar as my retaining clamp is concerned.

In its structural features, the pliers K define a pair of coacting jaws, which are adapted to be introduced over the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D, as shown in FIG- URE 8. Each jaw defines a free end. Moreover, the pliers K have a pair of operating handles 42 and 43, which are swingably secured together by ajournal pin 44 for closing and opening movements. A leaf spring 45 may be fixed to one of the handles and bears against the other handle, as disclosed in FIGURE 7, so as to yieldingly urge the handles 42 and 43 apart and thus open the jaws L and M.

It will be noted that the jaws L and M are fixed to the handles 42 and 43, respectively, and these jaws are movable toward and away from one another by actuating the handles. Stop-means designated generally at N have been I provided on the pliers K, and disposed to bear against the retaining clamp D for limiting movement of the jaws L and M in a gingival direction so as to confine the free ends of the jaws to the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D, whereby the legs 12 of the clamp will be spread apart and thus released from the end sections 11 of the band A, when the arch 13 is compressed by moving the jaws of the pliers K toward one another, as shown in FIG- URE. 8.

As to the stop-means N, it will be observed that a notch 45 is formed in the jaw L, while the jaw M is provided with a projection 47. This projection is disposed adjacent to the gingivahfacing end of .the jaw M and is designed to abut the arch 13 of the retaining clamp D, when the latter is initially straddled by the jaws L and M, and this arrangement will confine these jaws to the arch of the clamp.

As illustrated in FEGURE 8, the legs lZ will be spread apart and thus released from the end sections ll of the band A, when the arch 13 is compressed by moving the jaws L and M toward one another. The projection 47 is dimensioned to strike the bottom of the recess 46 before the arch 13 is completely sheared ofi, when the arch is compressed, whereby the pliers K may be utilized for removing the released clamp D from the patients mouth.

The jaws L and M are bevelled at their gingival-facing ends to define sharp edges 48 and '49, respectively, which are adapted to bite into the arch 13 to thereby prevent ejection of the clamp D from between the jaws on initial compressivepressure of the jaws thereagainst. The arch I 13 is provided with preformed scorings or grooves 50 in opposite exterior surfaces thereof, which are designed to receive the sharp edges 48-49 to facilitate the gripping and opening of the clamp D by the releasing or opening pliers K. 7

As the sharp edges 48-49 bite into the outer surfaces of the arch 13, there is a bi-lateral, concentric pull towards the center of the arch, resulting in an outward spreading of the legs 12 and thus releasing the clamp D from the matrix band A, as disclosed in FIGURE 8. At this time, the pliers K may be moved occlusally relative to the tooth B and the clamp D may be lifted out of the patients mouthall in one continuous motion and with no additional action or elfort on the part of the operator.

After removal of the clamp D from the patients mouth, it may be placed on the bracket table of the conventional dental chair, or into a scrap-metal container by simply releasing the handles 4243, aided by the action of the spring 45 in tending to spread the handles of the pliers K apart.

Summary of Operation Assuming that the matrix band A has been secured to the retainer C, with the looped portion 10' projecting from the slotted head E, the operator may apply one of my retaining clamps D over the occlusal'edges 15 of the band A so as to straddle the overlapped end sections 11 of the hand between the looped portion 10 and the slotted head E. The arch 13 of the clamp D must be placed over the band A in the same position as the retainer head E, with the open end toward the gingival.

This retaining clamp D should be applied so that the mesial recess (or groove.) 19a faces forward, regardless of the position of the tooth with which it is to be used; This is important whether the application is being made on the buccal or lingual aspect of the tooth, since it is necessary that this recess (or groove) correspond with the blade 37 of the crimping pliers F. j

With finger pressure, the operator should squeeze the retaining clamp D so as to grip the band A. This will enable the clamp to slide with the retainer C, and prevents the clamp fromfalling into the patients mouth, when applying the band to upper teeth.

Next, the operator should place the looped portion 10 of the band A around the prepared tooth B, with the retaining clamp D in position distally to the center of the tooth, whether the application be buccal or lingual,

since it will enable adequate room for the crimping pliers F. i

I The sliding block 24 of the matrix retainer may be retracted relative to the slotted head E, and thiswill result in drawing the looped portion 10 tightly around the banded tooth. With the retainer C remaining in place, the pliers F may 'be-used to crimp the clamp D upon the overlapped band end sections 11, it being noted that the blade 37 will enter the mesial recess (or groove) 19a. C may be removed from the patients mouthf Excess band may be turned back or trimmed off. It will be noticed that the retaining clamp also serves as a holder for cotton rolls (not shown). 7 .1

order to retain the proper interproximal space.

After adequate contouring for contact points, packing After the clamp D has been crirnped, the retainer In doing quadrant work, it may be advisable to alternate the positions in which the retaining clamps Dare 1 'placed; for instance, buccal-lingual-buccal, or lingual-- buccal-lingual. In multiple or quadrant preparations, it is suggested that adequate wedging be employed in open pliers K squarely over the occlusal arch 13, and gently but firmly closing the jaws (or beaks) L and M. The position of the releasing or opening pliers K is automatically governed by' the design of these pliers. Each unlocked clamp D is easily removed from the band A with the pliers K in a continuous operation.

I claim:

1. In a matrix band retaining clamp: a unitary substantially U-shaped member having a pair of juxtapositioned legs which are interconnected by an arch; the legs defining a narrow slot therebetween that is open at one end of the legs, whereby the member may be applied over the occlusal edges of overlapped end sections of a looped matrix band which encircles a patients tooth, and themember may be moved gingivally so that the legs will straddle the end sections of the band, and with the memher being movable into a position adjacent to the looped portion of the band; the slot being dimensioned so that the overlapped end sections of the band may be pulled therethrough by a matrix retainer to thus constrict the looped portion of the band around the patients tooth; the legs having mesially and distally disposed lugs confined to their gingival corners in positions to abut a slotted head of the matrix retainer and preclude the clamp member from being drawn into the slotted head during the constricting of the band around the patients tooth; these lugs projecting mesially and distally beyond the outer surfaces of the respective legs on which they are provided; one of the legs being preformed with a tongue on its interior surface that projects toward a registering preformed recess fashioned in the interior surface of the other leg to thus provide interlocking offsets in the overlapped end sections of the band, when the retaining clamp member is crimped upon the band, and thus positively anchoring the retaining clamp member against slippage along the lengths of the end sections of the band.

2. The matrix band retaining clamp, as defined in claim 1; and in which each of the legs is fashioned with recesses on both lateral edges thereof, which recesses extend in an occluso-gingival direction and conform to the axial contour of the patients teeth, whereby the clamp member may be applied to either the buccal or lingual surfaces of the teeth on the upper or lower arch, and on either the right or left side of the patients mouth.

3. In a matrix band retaining clamp: 21 unitary sub stantially U-shaped member having a pair of juxtapositioned legs which are interconnected by an arch; the legs defining a narrow slot therebetween that is open at one end of the legs, whereby the member may be applied over the occlusal edges of overlapped end sections of a looped matrix band which encircles a patients tooth, and the member may be moved gingivally so that the legs will straddle the end sections of the band, and with the member being movable into a position adjacent to the looped portion of the band; the slot being dimensioned so that the overlapped end sections of the band may be pulled therethrough by a matrix retainer to thus constrict the looped portion of the band around the patients tooth; the material of the clamp member being malleable so that the legs may be crimped upon the overlapped end sections of the band by beaks of crimping pliers straddling the clamp member; at least one of the legs having a pair of spaced lugs disposed on its exterior surface; these lugs projecting beyond the outer surface of the leg on which they are formed and providing a vertical guideway through which a beak of the crimping pliers may be inserted into a final position over the clamp member.

4. The matrix band retaining clamp, as defined= in claim 3; and in which. the lugs are positioned at the gingival corners of the leg on which they are provided to abut a beak of the crimping pliers inserted therebetween, and thus hold the beak against movement in either E3 lateral direction relative to the legs of the retaining clamp member.

5. The matrix band retaining clamp, as defined in claim 3; and in which the lugs are disposed at the gingival corners of the leg on which they are provided; the lugs having occlusally-facing ends that are exposed and positioned to abut shoulders on a beak of the crimping pliers to limit movement of the pliers in a gingival direction.

6. The matrix band retaining clamp, as defined in claim 3; and in which one of the legs is preformed with a tongue on its interior surface that projects toward a registering preformed recess fashioned in the interior surface of the other leg to thus provide interlocking offsets in the overlapped sections of the band, when the retaining clamp member is crimped upon the band, and thus positively anchoring the retaining clamp member against slippage along the length of the band; the interior tongue and the interior recess commencing at the gingival edges of their respective legs and extending occlusaliy and being located substantially midway between the lugs.

7. In a matrix band retaining clamp: a unitary substantially U-shaped member having a pair of juxtapositioned legs which are interconnected by an arch; the legs defining a narrow slot therebetween that is open at one end of the legs, whereby the member may be applied over the occlusal edges of overlapped end sections of a looped matrix band which encircles a patients tooth, and the member may be moved gingivally so that the legs will straddle the end sections of the band, and with the member being movable into a position adjacent to the looped portion of the band; the slot being dimensioned so that the overlapped end sections of the band may be pulled therethrough by a matrix retainer to thus constrict the looped portion of the band around the patients tooth; the material of the member being malleable so that the legs may be crimped upon the overlapped and sections of the band by beaks of crimping pliers straddling the member; each of the legs having a lug on a gingival corner disposed to bear against the adjacent gingival edge section of the band to press the band into a gingival recess of the tooth, when the looped portion of the band is constricted around the tooth and the member is forced against the looped portion of the band by the matrix retainer.

8. The matrix band retaining clamp, as defined in claim 7; and in one of the legs is fashioned with an exterior occluso-gingivally extending groove into which a wedge-shaped blade on a beak of the crimping pliers may be forced so as to expand the legs bucco-lingually and thus urge the lugs toward the banded tooth during the crimping of the clamp member.

9. In a matrix band retaining clamp: a unitary substantially U-shaped member having a pair of juxtapositioned legs which are interconnected by an arch: the legs defining a narrow slot therebetween that is open at one end of the legs, whereby the member may be applied over the overlapped end sections of a looped matrix band which encircles a patients tooth; the material of the clamp member being malleable so that the legs may be crimped upon the overlapped end sections of the band; the arch being provided with preformed scorings in opposite exterior surfaces thereof disposed in proximity with one another and which are designed to receive sharp edges on jaws of clamp-releasing pliers; the arch being compressible to thus spread the legs apart, when releasing the clamp member from the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,844 Shannon Feb. 7, 1911 2,234,577 Reiter Mar. 11, 1941 2,575,800 Eicher Nov. 20, 1951 2,645,014 Mathison July 14, 1953 t an. 

